Driving means for pile-wire-controlling mechanism for looms



M s, 1928. v 1,668,574 W. E. SMITH DRIVING MEANS FOR PILE WIRE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 5. 1926 3 Shets-Sheet fig y WW:

May 8, 1928. 1,668,574

W. E. SMITH DRIVING MEANS FOR FILE WIRE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 5. 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Zed L May 8, 1928. 1,668,574

. w. E. SMITH DRIVING MEANS FOR FILE WIRE CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. s. 1926 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 8, 1928.

UITED STATES PATENT GPH'CJE.

WILLIAM E.SMITH, OE MILL'TOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOGULBENKIAN "SEAM- LESS RUG-COMPANY, OF NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY, CORPORATION new JERSEY.

DRIVIN G MEAN S FOR PILE-WIBE-CONTROLLIN G MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed August 3, 1926. Serial No. 126,898.

Theobject of my invention to improve the driving mechanism of the pile wire controlling mechanism of carpet looms, and especially that type of loom on which is s woven seamless rugs of the larger proportions.

The wire controlling mechanism employed on looms in general use at the present time comprises a wire switch and a wire controlio ling carriage reciprocally mounted on a rail secured to the frame of the loom. The wire control carriage is moved in one direction to withdraw apile wire from the woven fabric by an endless chain belt, and. in a reverse direction to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of the fabric being woven, by a rope and spiral wheel motion well known to those familiar to the art.

' The rope and spiral Wheel motion employs mechanism including a friction clutch, which is extremely unreliable in operation, diflicult to adjust and maintain in adjustment, and is therefore responsible for a large percentage of the costly loom stoppages so .well known to thoseengaged in the manufacture of textile fabrics produced on looms of this general type.

The object of my invention is to replace the above mentioned unreliable rope motion with a mechanism of a positive operating nature which will be more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accolnpanying drawings, of which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively diagram.- inatic plan and front elevational views of sufficient of a loom to illustrate the operation of my invention, as applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 33, Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken along; the line 4i--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional. elevation taken along the line of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 illustrates one method of attaching the wire controlling carriage to one of the ring chains. My present invention an improvement over the construction illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 5,041, filed January 27, 1925.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the loom is illustrated at A, the pile wire con-trolling mechanism at B. The pile wires are illustrated at C, and the pile wire con-trolling p An open pile warp shed is ,ated at E. The beat up uncut pile face ofthe fabric, with the pile wires therein, is shown at F, and the cut pile face of the fabric is illustrated at G. 4

The pile wire controlling mechanism 13' consists of the usual substantially U-shaped rail 1, having a pile wire switch illustrated at and pivoted to said rail at 8.

' The pile wire carriage I) is movedin a direction to Withdrawna pile wire from the woven fabric by means of the usual endless link belt illustrated atzl, which is continuously driven by means of a sprocket Wheel 5 secured to a shaft 6, which is driven in timed relation to the other elements of the loom, forming no-part of the present inventlon.

When the pile wire carriage reaches a point on the rail 1, adjacent the outerend thereof, a lug 7 secured to the rail strikes a release dog 8 on thecarriage D,and releases the carriage from the chain 4,.in the usual manner. Movement of the carriagel) in the opposite direction, to insert a pile wire in the open warp shed E, is effected by means of a second endless chainbelt 10, which is driven by means of a sprocket wheel 11 in a direction opposite to that of the chain 4.

Idler sprockets 12, 13, 14 and 15 are provided for guiding; the chain 10. The idler sprociretsare rotatably mounted in any suitable manner on the f ame of the loom. The sprocket 11 is secured to one end of a horizontally extending shaft 16 suitably mounted in bearings 18 and 19 on the frame of-the loom. Asecond shaft 17 is mounted in bearings 18 and 19 ina position parallel to the shaft 16. A pair of spur gears 20 and 21 are secured to the shaft- 16 interi'nediate the bearines 1.8 and 19. A sleeve 22 is loosely mounted on the shaft IG-andwithin the bearing 18, the sleeve 22 having a spur gear 23 intogruily formed thereon intermediate the gear 521 and the bearing 18, and a bevelled pinion integrally formed therewith and positioned at the oppositeside of the bearing 18 from that engaged by the gear 23. The gear 23 meshes with a gear 25 securedjto the shaft 17 The gear 2]. meshes with a gear 26, loosely mounted on the shaftll'iadjacent the gear 25, and is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by meansof a collar secured wil s shit? The seer 20 m she lit with a gear 28, loosely mounted on the shaft 17, which is provided with a disc 29 having a flange 30, forming one element of a friction clutch of the cone type.

. Collars 31 and 32 are secured to the shaft 17 for preventing relative longitudinalmove nient between the gear 28 and the shaft 17, and a collar 33 is secured to the shaft 17 for preventing relative longitudinal movement between the shaft 17 and the bearing 19.

A. clutch sleeve 35 is splined to the shaft 17 intermediate the gears 26 and 28. The sleeve 35 is provided with a cone clutch ele ment 36 at one end, which is adapted to cooperate with the clutch element 29-30 secared to the gear 28. At the opposite end, the sleeve is provided with clutch teeth 37 adapted to engage clutch teeth 88 formed on the adjacent side of the gear 26. An annular groove 39 is formed in the clutch sleeve 85, and is adapted to receive a clutch collar 40, loosely mounted therein. The collar all is provided with trunnions -11 which are adapted to be engaged by the fork d end 42 of a lever 43.

The lever 43 is pivoted on the frame of the loom, as illustrated at shit, and the opposite end 4-5 of said lever is apertured at 16 for the reception of one end of a connecting rod l7. The opposite end of the connecting rod or link 4L7 is pivoted at 48 to one arm 49 of a bell-crank lever 50. The hell-crank lever 50 is pivoted at 51 to the frame of a loom and the other arm 52 of the bellerank lever has a cam roller 53 rotatably mounted thereon.

The cam roller 53 engages a cam 5st secured to a shaft 55 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 56 secured to the frame of the loom, said shaft being driven from and in timed relation with the other elements of the loom. A spring 57 has one of its ends attached to the arm 49 of the bell-crank lever 50 at a point 58, the opposite end of the spring 57 being attached to a suitable bracket 59 secured to the frame of the loom.

A compression spring 60 is mounted on the link l? intermediate the lever 45 and the bell-crank lever 50. One end of the spring 60 engages one side of the lever 45, and the opposite end engages a washer 61 on the link L7. The link e'l'i' is threaded to receive an adjusting nut 62 which engages the washer 61, and by means of which the degree of normal compression of the spring 60 may be minutely controlled.

A retaining nut 63 is mounted on the link 47 at the side of the lever 45 opposite to the spring 60, and a lock nut 6% is also mounted on the link 47 and engages the nut 63.

The bevelled pinion 24 meshes with a bevelled gear 65 which is secured to a shaft 66 rotatably mounted in the frame of the loom and driven from and/in timed relation with the other operating elements of the 100111, which form no part of the present invention.

The earn 5% is provided with a high portion 67, a low portion 68 and an intermediate portion 59, by means of which the clutch sleeve is moved to one of three positions wherein the teeth 37 thereof engage the teeth 38 of the gear 26, to a position wherein the clutch element engages the clutch flange 30 of the gear 28, or to a neutral position illustrated in Fig. 4.

Under conditions of operation and in timed relation with the other operating elements of the loom the wire controlling carria e l) engaged by a suitable projection ie chain t whereby the carriage is moved outward from the main portion of the loot; and carries with it one of the pile wires (if l manner. When the wire is entirely wiindrawn from the woven fabric the release dog 8 engages the lug 'Z on the rail 1 and thereby releases the carriage D from the chain l, in the usual manner. 'i'he switch 2 is then operated in a warmer to direct the withdrawn wire into the open warp shed E of the fabric being woven, The carriage D is at all times operativcly connected to the chain 10 which runs free when the carriage is moving outward, Immediately upon the release of the carriage D from the chain 4 the high portion 6. of the rotating cam 5d engages the roller on the bell-crank lever 50, thereby rocking said bell-crank lever and the lever =l33-i-i5 through the medium of the link 4C7. Iiiocking of the lever a3 -15, by the high portion of he cam 54:, causes the clutch sleeve 35 to be moved longitudinally on the shaft 1'? and the clutch teeth 37 of said sleeve to engage the clutch teeth 38 of the gear 26.

The bevel gear (35 is continuously driven thereby driving the pinion 24;, sleeve 22, gear 23, gear 25 and the shaft 17 in a like manner. The clutch sleeve 35, being splined to the shaft 1'7, likewise continuously driven, and when moved into engagement with the gear 26 causes said gear to be rotated thercb otating the gear 21 and "the aft 16, the syn'ockfl wheel ll being secured to the shaft 16 is consequently rotated, thereby driving the chain it) and with it the carriage I) in a direction toward the main por tion of the loom at a definite speed. lly this means the pile wire C, which was previously withdrawn from the woven fabric, is inserted in the open warp shed of the fabric being woven. the carriage continued its inward motion at this initial rate of speed, it would produce a hammer-like blow against suitably formed stops on the rail 1, when the inward movement of the carriage was complete, due to the momentum developed on its To prevent t is hammerinward stroke. like blow, l proposeto slacken the speed of lit;

the carriage D as it approaches the inner terminus of its movement, and for this purpose the cam 54 is provided with the low portion 68.

Continued rotation of the cam 54: causes the roll-er53 to ride from the high portion 67 onto the low portion 68 of the cam. The spring 57 rocks the bell-crank lever 50 in a direction opposite to that above noted, and, in so doing, rocks the lever spas in an opposite direction, causing the teeth 37 of the clutch sleeve to be disengaged from the teeth 38 of the gear 26, and causing the clutch element 36 to frictionally engage the clutch element 2930ot the gear 28, thereby applying power to the gear 28, the gear 20, the shaft 16 and the sprocket 11 at a reduced rate of speed from the initial speed above mentioned, due to the difference of ratio otthc gears 26, 21 and the gears 28, 20.

The reduced rate of speed, at which the sprocket 11 is rotated, causes the speed ofthe chain 10 and consequently the speed of the carriage D to be slackened, a braking effect being first produced :by the friction clutch Zl36, when the change from high to low speed is effected. When the carriage D reaches its inner limit of travel, the roller rides onto the intermediate portion 69 of the cam -1 and the clutch sleeve is moved to theneutral position illustrated in Fig. 4, which disenga-ges the shaft 16 from the source of power, and consequently stops the travel of: the carriage D.

The spring on the link 47 provides for ease of engagement between the clutch teeth 37 and 38 and prevents breakage of any of the elen'ients should the high portion of. the said teeth initially engage each other.

The chain 10, in the present instance,lis of the detachable link type, each link having an open center. The carriage D is provided with a suitable housing in which is slidably mounted a bolt 71 having-a shoulder 72 formed thereon. A spring 73 engages the shoulder 72 and is confined in the bolt aperture 74 of the housing 70, by means of a plug 7 5. The plug 75 is provided with slots 7 (S for the accommodation of a trans verse pin 77 in the connecting bolt 71. The connecting bolt 71 is provided with a suitably knurled head 78.

lllltltl. normal operating conditions, the connecting bolt 71 engages the chain 10 as illustrated in Fig. 6, and by this means the carriage D is driven. Should it become necessary to move the carriage D relative to the chain, the operator, by grasping the head 78, can raise the bolt 71 clear of the chain 10, and by turning the bolt 71 a slight amount the pins 77' can be placed on the top surface of the plug 75 and thereby retain the bolt 72 in an inoperative position.

While I have illustrated a friction clutch of the cone type on the clutch sleeve 35, it

will be understood that any type of friction clutch, or other device which Will permit a slippage between said sleeve and the shaft 16, may be employed without departing from the essential feature of this portion of my invention which is to permit the carriage to adjust its speed from the high to the low gradually and without abrupt change, the said slippage permitting this gradual adjustmentwhich in effect is the dampening of the momentum developed by the carriage while traveling at the higher rate of speed to a point where the speed of the carriage synchronizes with the relative low speed of the low speed driving element.

1 claim:

1. In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms having a reciprocating carriage and means for moving said carriage in a direction to withdraw a pile wire from fabric woven on said loom; means for moving said carriage in a direction to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of fabric being woven on said loom and at relatively different speeds, comprising a continuously rotating drive shaft operatively connected to a source 01. power; a driven shaft operatively connected to said carriage; driving elements loosely mounted on said drive shaft; driven elements secured to said driven shaft and operatively connected to said driving eleinents connecting means on said drive shaft adapted to continuously rotate therewith andto eilect rotation of either of said driving elements on said shaft, and means for selectively effecting cooperation between said connecting means and one of said driving elen'ients, whereby thespeed of said carriage may be varied from the initial speed thereof.

In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms having a reciprocating carriage and means for moving said carriage in a direction to withdraw a, pile wire from fabric woven on said loom; means for moving said carriagein 'adirection to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of fabric being woven on said loom and at relatively different speeds, comprising a continuously rotating drive shaft. operatively connected to a source of power; a driven shaft operativelv connected to said carriage; driving elements loosely mounted on said drive shaft; driven elements secured to said driven shaft and opcratirely connected to said driving elements; connecting means on said drive snaitadapted to continuously rotate therewith and to eitcct rotation of either of said driving elements on said shaft; and means for moving said connecting means to and from a neutral position and into and out of egagenient with said driving elements alternately, whereby said carriage may be driven at different speeds throughout its in" serting movement and disengaged from its Zoo ill.

source of power at the terminus of said movement.

3. In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms having a reciprocating carriage and means for moving said carriage in a direction to withdraw a pile wire from fabric woven on said loom; means for moving said carriage in a direction to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of fabric being woven. on said loom and at relatively dii'lerout speeds, comprising a continuously rotating drive shaft operatively connected to a source of power; a driven shaft operatively connected to said carriage; a pair of driven gear wheels of relatively dill'erent pitch diameters secured to said driven shaft; a pair of driving gear wheels of relatively dili crent pitch-diameters loosely mounted on said drive shaft and meshing respectively with the said driven gears; clutch teeth on one oi said drive gears; a friction clutch element on the other ct said drive cars; a clutch sleeve splined to said drive shaft intermediate said drive gears therein; clutch teeth on one end of aid sleeve; a friction clutch element on the opposite end of said sleeve; and means for moving said clutch sleeve to and from a neutral position and the clutch elements thereof into and out of engagements with the respective clutch elements on said drive gears.

4:. In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms having a reciprocating carriage and means for moving said carriage in a direction to withdraw a pile wire from fabric woven on said loom; means for moving said carriage in a direction to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of fabric being woven on said loom including a link belt; and means for connecting said carriage with said link belt during both the inserting and withdawing movements of said carriage comprising a manually operable connecting element on said carriage adapted to project into one of the links of said link belt by means of which said carriage may be operatively connected to or disconnected from said link belt, at the will of the operator.

5. In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms having a reciprocating carriage and means for moving said carriage in a direction to withdraw a pile wire from fabric woven on said loom; means for moving said carriage in a direction to insert a pile wire into the open warp shed of fabric being woven on said loom including a link belt; a housing on said carriage; a connecting bolt mounted in said housing; a spring normally maintaining said bolt in engagement with said link belt; a projection on said bolt adapted to co-operate with said housing to maintain the said bolt out of engagement with said link belt; and means for moving said bolt to either of its positions relative to said link belt.

6. In pile wire controlling mechanism for looms adapted to operate at a constant rate of speed and having a reciprocating carriage for inserting and withdrawing pile wires relative to the fabric being woven, means operable at a constant rate of speed consistent with the speed of the loom for moving the carriage in a direction to with draw a wire, m ans for moving the carriage in a direction to insert a wire at a constant initial rate of speed consistent with the const-ant rate of speed of said loom and said wire withdrawing means, means for moving the carriage at a reduced rate of speed relative to said constant initial rate of speed as the inserting operation is being completed, means for eli'octing the change of speed of said carriage on its wire inserting movement from the said constant initial speed to the said reduced speed, and means operable between the initial and reduced speeds for dampening the momentum of the carriage developed while traveling at the said initial rate or speed.

7. In pile Wire controlling mechanism for looms adapted to operate at a constant rate of speed and having a reciprocating carriage for inserting and withdrawing pile wires relative to the fabric being woven, means operable at a constant rate of speed consist ent with the speed of the loom for moving the carriage in a direction to withdraw a wire, means operatively connected to a constantly moving element of the loom for moving'the'carriage in a direction to insert a wire at a constant initial rate of speed consistent with the constant rate of speed of said loom and said wire withdrawing means, means for moving the carriageata reduced rate of speed relative to said constant initial rate of speed as the inserting operation is being completed, means for effecting the change of speed of said carriage on its wire inserting movement from the said constant initial speed to the said reduced speed, means operable between the initial and reduced speeds for dampening the momentum of the carriage developed while traveling at the said initial rate of speed, and means or disengaging said wire inserting means from the said constantly moving element of said loom at the terminus of the in ard travel of the carriage.

WlLLIAM E. SMITH, 

